Ground Rents Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 November 2014

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

Questions (81)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

81. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the present system for householders to buy out ground rent; if the State system and charges may be listed; if a landlord must sell at seven times annual rent or is legally entitled to go higher; if a landlord may charge administration, search and registration fees or if these are all available free under the State system; if a landlord is legally entitled to claim arrears; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45441/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The general position regarding ground rents is that section 2 of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1978 introduced a prohibition on the creation of new leases reserving ground rents on dwellings. As regards remaining ground rents, Part III of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act 1978 contains a statutory scheme whereby a holder of a leasehold interest may, at reasonable cost, acquire the fee simple in his or her dwelling. To date, over 80,000 applicants have acquired freehold title to their property under this scheme. Comprehensive details of the scheme, including details of the ways in which the fee simple can be acquired and the fees involved, are available on the Property Registration Authority's website (www.prai.ie).